Whats involved in changing my V8 to Diesel

[stevepage3]

Hi

I currently have a 3.5 V8 and love it, all that is except its major disliking to water, everytime I got offroading there is a stint with the WD40 and a rag trying
desperatley to get it going again.

My question

Is it possible to replace the V8 with a diesel engine and if it is what is involved.

I currently have an LT77 box .

Look forward to your replies

Steve

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

make the damm thing waterproof then. thick ht lead, covered dizzy , cover coil and bla bla

[Dr Evil]

Sell it and buy a diesel one. Job done.

[peasey]

I must admit to leaving the v8 fold and shifting to diesel power by buying a diesel so i cant comment on how you would go about it or what parts you would have to buy but i recently stumbled on a topic on lr4x4 where one fella (fridge freezer) waterproofed his v8 by doing somthing called mega squirting it and pretty cheaply by all accounts but i never really read the artical in depth so cant tell you about it in much detail but if you browse the technical forum its all there all 14 or so pages of it.I considered doing it as i miss the power of my old v8 but her in doors wont let me have two land rovers on the drive,the guy in question admitted he had very little knowledge of wiring and other things and by all accounts it was very sucessful,so maybe thats something you could consider mate?

[Range Rover Blues]

Mega squirt (FUEL) and mega jolt (SPARKS) are DIY programmable ECUs that you can pretty much build yourself.  The megjolt can replace the Dizzy with a coil pack just like the GEMS system.

I have to be honest though, I have no problem getting my V8 wet other than the frightening regularity of bearing failure, I just can't see the point of going through water that deep unless your life depends on it :-k

[stuntman]

Hello chap, it will invole new engine mounts and running a couple of extra wires, not a major task at all.

Your best bet is to buy a cheap 200 tdi disco complete and swap the bits over, it's alot of hassle but if you're adamant that you wish to keep your body and chassis then go for it.

I have to admit I'm in the process of making a 300tdi defender from a V8 CSW Defender and a 300tdi disco, it's a lot of fiddling and a little welding but nothing a good home diy mechanic couldn't do.

The 200 tdi takes very little to get it running so if you want to go for it do it.

[Mr Alford]

Hello chap, it will invole new engine mounts and running a couple of extra wires, not a major task at all.

Your best bet is to buy a cheap 200 tdi disco complete and swap the bits over, it's alot of hassle but if you're adamant that you wish to keep your body and chassis then go for it.

I have to admit I'm in the process of making a 300tdi defender from a V8 CSW Defender and a 300tdi disco, it's a lot of fiddling and a little welding but nothing a good home diy mechanic couldn't do.

The 200 tdi takes very little to get it running so if you want to go for it do it.

the 200tdi is a far simpler engine and much more robust and best bit it loves the water

[stevepage3]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Would I be able to use my existing gear box ( LT77 ) or would I need to change it ? 

Steve

[clbarclay]

I just can't see the point of going through water that deep unless your life depends on it :-k

The point of deep water and diesels is it gives your mates no option but to go deep wading in the worst puddle you can find and live consequesnes, while those with V8s have a good excuse not to and go play in some other terrain.

Its not just the spark that suffers in water, I know people with TDi engines that have given up wading, changing alternators and repairng wading enduced rust looses its appeal after a while.

[ben_haynes]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Would I be able to use my existing gear box ( LT77 ) or would I need to change it ? 

Steve

no the gearbox bell housings are completly different

it would be much better to sell the V8 and get a TDi rather than mess about changing engine and gearbox welding new mounts on the chassis, different wiring looms and the likes,

[ben_haynes]

Hello chap, it will invole new engine mounts and running a couple of extra wires, not a major task at all.

Your best bet is to buy a cheap 200 tdi disco complete and swap the bits over, it's alot of hassle but if you're adamant that you wish to keep your body and chassis then go for it.

I have to admit I'm in the process of making a 300tdi defender from a V8 CSW Defender and a 300tdi disco, it's a lot of fiddling and a little welding but nothing a good home diy mechanic couldn't do.

The 200 tdi takes very little to get it running so if you want to go for it do it.

the 200tdi is a far simpler engine and much more robust and best bit it loves the water

but you have to modify it to do so,i.e fit a snorkel, as Diesels dont do water in the engine, where as the petrols will run on a bit of water sucked up, have done it in my rangie,

I just can't see the point of going through water that deep unless your life depends on it :-k

The point of deep water and diesels is it gives your mates no option but to go deep wading in the worst puddle you can find and live consequesnes, while those with V8s have a good excuse not to and go play in some other terrain.

Its not just the spark that suffers in water, I know people with TDi engines that have given up wading, changing alternators and repairng wading enduced rust looses its appeal after a while.

mine has gone deeper in water than my mates Diesel will, have no snorkel on either, yes mine drops on to 7 but it still doesnt damage pushrods valves or anything else

[stevepage3]

Hi Ben

IS you V8 Standard or have you made any mods to try and make it cope with water better. I have just changed the HT leads and Dizzy Cap to genuine Landrover parts, hopefully to improve its performance in the water.

I have a snorkel fitted and have also fitted electric fans, so that I can remove the visous when there is a chance that the water will be sprayed all round the engine bay.

I am not loooking to go bonnet deep all the time, but mine seems to have problem with even a foot of water.

Steve

[Rich_P]

I am not loooking to go bonnet deep all the time, but mine seems to have problem with even a foot of water.

I would begin at looking for poor sealing items.  A cracked distributor cap can cause this very problem for example.  The V8 Disco should be okay for going up to the headlights in stock form.

[LiftedDisco]

Steve

Ian from Northants 4x4 has a bobtailed Range Rover that is as sweet as you could wish for, irrespective of what he dunks it into!

It runs so well that we were forced to question what he had done... response - "Chain Wax"

Apparently you can get it at any good motorcycle shop and it offers far better protection than WD40.

Possibly cheaper than a diesel conversion...

Hope this helps

Rob

[mentalmoshio sophs V8i]

Hi Ben

IS you V8 Standard or have you made any mods to try and make it cope with water better. I have just changed the HT leads and Dizzy Cap to genuine Landrover parts, hopefully to improve its performance in the water.

I have a snorkel fitted and have also fitted electric fans, so that I can remove the visous when there is a chance that the water will be sprayed all round the engine bay.

I am not loooking to go bonnet deep all the time, but mine seems to have problem with even a foot of water.

Steve

i think a little time is required to check the wiring condition . mine cut out a few weeks ago after going through a deepish puddle. fault  + and negative feeds to ing amp touching  :)